Simon Handford
Mr. Medina
Humanities-M7
1/27/14
Struggle: Poverty and Racism
According to The Free Dictionary, struggle can be defined as “To be strenuously engaged with a problem, task, or undertaking: struggled with his math homework.”. Some may claim that struggle is positive. It can help a person to better deal with certain tricky situations, and how to get out of others; experience is the best teacher. Others think that struggle is hurtful. Many studies have been performed on this topic. This essay will argue that in spite of what some think, struggle is multidimensional and has implications that can hurt us.
Struggles are multidimensional. We see this in Breaking Through; For example, one of the struggles Panchito experiences is being an undocumented immigrant in the US. This struggle causes him to be deported. One example from the text that provides evidence of his fear is when he said, “I lived in constant fear for ten long years” (Jimenez, 1). Panchito lived in America for ten years undocumented. Later in the book he said, “As I got older, my fear of being deported grew”(Jimenez, 1). Panchito got more and more scared as his life in America went on. When the immigration officer came to take him back to Mexico, Panchito cried. This shows that struggle is multidimensional.
Along the lines of struggle being multidimensional, we can also examine its implications. Once again using Breaking Through, Panchito struggles with poverty. Poverty affects Panchito’s health, education, and living conditions. There are examples from the book that show the implications of poverty. One example is when Panchito is taken out of school to work because of his family’s poverty; “We no longer had to move to Fresno at the end of every summer and miss school for two and a half months to pick grapes and cotton and live in army tents or old garages”(Jimenez, 3). This is a good example of how poverty affects his education because it shows that because of poverty, Panchito had to leave school and suspend his education while he worked with his family to earn money. Another example of how poverty affects Panchito is when Panchito lives with Roberto, separate from the rest of the family because of his family’s poverty. Poverty also affects Panchito’s home; Panchito lives in a shack without a bathroom. If Panchito or Roberto had to go to the bathroom at night, they’d go in a pan, but Panchito has to take it to the outhouse the next morning. Poverty also has effects on his health; When Panchito got ringworm, his mother didn’t take him to a doctor, she treated him herself. Panchito’s life is affected by poverty. This shows that struggle has implications.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects living conditions; “The migratory experience left these workers – primarily Mexicans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Filipinos – permanent outsiders and vulnerable to exploitation, low wages, and wretched working and living conditions”(“The Cycle of Poverty: Mexican-American Migrant Farmworkers Testify before Congress). This shows that the people affected by this ended up with poorer living conditions, despite their tireless working. Another example of how poverty affects living conditions is shown on ThinkProgress’s website; “On average, food stamp beneficiaries live 1.8 miles away from a grocery store. Without a vehicle or public transportation to help these Americans get to the market and carry their groceries back home”(Four Ways That Poverty Hurts Americans’ Long-Term Health). This shows that people affected by poverty are prone to poor living conditions. The last example of how poverty affects living conditions is by the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE); “Seventy-one percent of the expenditures of the families of poor* individuals is for food, shelter, utilities, and apparel, compared to 46 percent for families of the non-poor. For those in poor, single-parent families, the share spent on these necessities is 80 percent … Those living in poor households are twice as likely to be victims of violent crimes (robbery, assault, and rape) as are the non-poor. Those is poor, single-parent families are more than three times as likely”(Living Conditions of American Families,). These examples show how poverty affects living conditions in many different ways.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects health; “The poor are unlikely to invade ERs in upscale hospitals in richer neighborhoods for the simple reason that they would be too hard for them to reach. Rural areas have always had issues with convenient health facilities. And that is one reason why charities such as Remote Area Medical find that literally hundreds of people stand in line in the predawn hours to attend free medical and dental clinics in places such as mountainous Wise County. Poverty and access to medical care are still a serious problem in Virginia”(Where Virginia’s poor live). This example shows that people who are poor have less convenient access to medical resources than people who are not poor. Another example of health being affected by poverty is shown on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s website; “Approximately 1.2 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty (less than one dollar per day). Poverty creates ill-health because it forces people to live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation”(Poverty and Health). This example shows how poverty affects health and sanitation. Another example on OUPblog’s website is, “If you are poor, you are more likely to live in communities with hazardous outdoor and indoor air pollution. Your children are more likely to have elevated lead levels and resultant problems, such as lower IQ scores and reading levels, attention deficits, and behavioral problems. You are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed, and when able to get a job, you’re more likely to work in an unhealthful or unsafe workplace with hazardous chemical or physical exposures. If you are poor, you are less likely to be able to access healthy foods and are more likely to be obese — and develop illnesses associated with obesity. You are more likely to be addicted to cigarettes”(Poverty and health in the United States). This example shows how poverty affects health because of where you live. Poverty has negative affects on many things. These examples show how poverty affects health.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects education; “Children living in poverty have a higher number of absenteeism or leave school all together because they are more likely to have to work or care for family members. Dropout rates of 16 to 24-year-old students who come from low income families are seven times more likely to drop out than those from families with higher incomes. A higher percentage of young adults (31 percent) without a high school diploma live in poverty, compared to the 24 percent of young people who finished high school”(11 Facts About Education and Poverty in America). This example shows how poverty affects education and learning in America. Another example of how poverty affects education is by the ETS; “While education has been envisioned as the great equalizer, this promise has been more myth than reality. Today, the achievement gap between the poor and the non-poor is twice as large as the achievement gap between Black and White students. The tracking of differences in the cognitive performance of toddlers, elementary and middle school students, and college-bound seniors shows substantial differences by income and/or poverty status”(Poverty and Education: Finding the Way Forward). This example shows how poverty affects student’s education. Another example of poverty and education is found on the digital commons; “Poverty affects a child’s development and educational outcomes beginning in the earliest years of life, both directly and indirectly through mediated, moderated, and transactional processes”(The Effect of Poverty on Child Development and Educational Outcomes). This example shows how poverty affects education greatly. Poverty has negative effects on many things. These examples show how poverty affects education.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects safety; “POOR people are twice as likely to be mugged, a new report will reveal today … It means they are more likely to be attacked several times in a year and that levels of domestic violence are higher than in more affluent households. The report also warns that children growing up in crime-ridden neighbourhoods are more likely to become aggressive and turn to violent crime themselves”(MOST VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE POOR). This shows how people in poverty are vulnerable to crime. Another example of how poverty affects safety; “The NCVS data reveal that those with household incomes below $7,500 are more than three times more likely to be robbed than those with incomes above $75,000”(Who is Most Likely to be a Crime Victim?). This example shows how poverty negatively affects safety. Another example of how safety is affected by poverty; “John Berry, 64, a Vietnam veteran who lived without a home in Anaheim. Stabbed to death. Billy Rajah Jr., 47, a Salinas man living on the streets. Ran over by a man who decided that once wasn’t enough, so he ran over Rajah again, killing him. Pedro Ramos, 32, homeless in Houston. A group of teenagers shot him and took his wallet. He had $1. The victims’ crimes: being poor”(Since 1999, More Than A Thousand Homeless People Have Been Victims Of Violent Hate Crimes). These examples show how poverty negatively affects safety.
To sum up, this essay has shown that in spite of what some think, struggle is multidimensional and has implications that can hurt us. Some may believe that poverty is good for you. It can help a person to better deal with certain tricky situations, and how to get out of others; experience is the best teacher. This may be true, but I believe poverty is bad because of its affects on living conditions, health, education and safety.
Poverty is not the only struggle that has negative implications; racism is just as damaging. According to the Free Dictionary, “The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to other races”(racism). Racism is a person’s belief that a certain race is better than all the others.
Examples of racism can be found in Breaking Through. When Panchito went to High School, his counselor discriminated him, tried to put him in woodworking, mechanics, and even farming classes; “"We have excellent vocational programs in car mechanics, electronics, and wood shop. We also have a program for future farmers””(75). This example shows racism; the counselor assumed that because of his race, Panchito would want be a farmer, or work with his hands for a living when he grew up. Another example of racism from the book is when Roberto met his girlfriend’s family; “When I said I was Mexican there was dead silence. After a while we continued talking, but they seemed uncomfortable and less friendly”(107). This example shows racism, because Roberto’s girlfriend’s parents felt less friendly to him, only because of his race. Another example of racism from the book comes to pass when Panchito was offered a typewriter by an office worker; “"It needs a new ribbon." "Yes, I know," I said. He gave me a surprised look”(93). This shows racism because the office worker thought that Panchito didn’t know the typewriter needed a new ribbon; he acted surprised when Panchito assured him that he knew. These examples show racism in the book, Breaking Through.
The movie, 42, about the Jackie Robinson story, shows examples of racism and its implications. The first example happens right after Jackie Robinson is hired by Mr. Ricky. At the airport, a clerk surrenders Jackie’s and his wife’s seats for a white couple. Jackie and his wife paid for those seats. She didn’t even ask if they would give up their seats. This example shows how the clerk considered Jackie Robinson and his wife less than the other couple because of the color of their skin. That wasn’t the only example of racism found in the movie. When he first went to an actual ball game, Jackie was threatened by an old cop angrily brandishing a nightstick. He said that black people don’t play white baseball. This example shows how even respected members of society were racist then. These examples show racism.
The movie, 42, about the Jackie Robinson story, shows examples of racism and its implications. The first example happens when the Dodgers go to Philadelphia. The hotel refuses the entire team just because they have Jackie Robinson with them. It shows that the hotel opposed Jackie Robinson being on the team because of the color of his skin. It was because of the color of his skin because no matter who the Dodgers had on the team before, the hotel accepted them. Another example of racism happens when Jackie joins the Dodgers, although it isn’t revealed until later. People send Jackie death threats, just because his skin is a different color than some other baseball players. Some racial slurs even ranged to “Nigger”, which, according to the Mac OS X dictionary, was used as “an adjective denoting a black person as early as the 17th century and has long had strong offensive connotations. Today it remains one of the most racially offensive words in the language”. He, Jackie Robinson, had not done anything to anger anyone at all than by being on a baseball team with a different skin color than him. These are examples of racism.
Not only has J. Robinson experienced racism and its implications, but it has happened to my mom’s friend. “”Galking at me for long periods of time without acknowledging that I am at the end of their piercing gaze…” “… Especially when I soften the offense by smiling and they fail to return my smile and acknowledgement of them””. My mom’s friend is black. The people looking at her were being very rude, and the difference of skin color suggests that they were being racist, and since she had done nothing else to receive the treatment they gave her, they were definitely were being racist. They even ignored the fact that she tried to smile at them. They acted as if she wasn’t human, just because she has a different skin color. This is an example of racism.
In contrast to all I have shared, Kelly Mcgonigal provides an opposing perspective. According to her, 20,000 people die a year to the belief that stress is bad for you. People die more from thinking stress is bad than people do from stress itself. She states that oxytocin, which she says helps people socialize, is a stress hormone. So when you’re stressed, you’re socializing. Also, she says people who help and care for others, don’t get hurt by stress. So when you help other people you help yourself. However, stress that comes from poverty and racism is never good. These have implications that affect one’s life, education, health, and living conditions. Even if its affects can be avoided, it is still very hurtful to everyone affected by it. Jackie Robinson broke his bat and needed help to get back to the playing field from Mr. Rickie when he got affected by stress – in fact, he nearly gave up his cause because of it. Despite what some may think, stress is bad for you.
To sum up, this essay has shown that despite what some may think, struggle caused by racism and poverty are bad and can negatively affect one’s life, education, health, and living conditions. Panchito’s family nearly collapsed because of their poverty and the racism of almost everyone in their neighborhood. Jackie Robinson was so affected by the struggle caused by racism that he broke his bat and nearly abandoned his cause. It’s our community’s responsibility to end the struggles caused by poverty and racism.
Mr. Medina
Humanities-M7
1/27/14
Struggle: Poverty and Racism
According to The Free Dictionary, struggle can be defined as “To be strenuously engaged with a problem, task, or undertaking: struggled with his math homework.”. Some may claim that struggle is positive. It can help a person to better deal with certain tricky situations, and how to get out of others; experience is the best teacher. Others think that struggle is hurtful. Many studies have been performed on this topic. This essay will argue that in spite of what some think, struggle is multidimensional and has implications that can hurt us.
Struggles are multidimensional. We see this in Breaking Through; For example, one of the struggles Panchito experiences is being an undocumented immigrant in the US. This struggle causes him to be deported. One example from the text that provides evidence of his fear is when he said, “I lived in constant fear for ten long years” (Jimenez, 1). Panchito lived in America for ten years undocumented. Later in the book he said, “As I got older, my fear of being deported grew”(Jimenez, 1). Panchito got more and more scared as his life in America went on. When the immigration officer came to take him back to Mexico, Panchito cried. This shows that struggle is multidimensional.
Along the lines of struggle being multidimensional, we can also examine its implications. Once again using Breaking Through, Panchito struggles with poverty. Poverty affects Panchito’s health, education, and living conditions. There are examples from the book that show the implications of poverty. One example is when Panchito is taken out of school to work because of his family’s poverty; “We no longer had to move to Fresno at the end of every summer and miss school for two and a half months to pick grapes and cotton and live in army tents or old garages”(Jimenez, 3). This is a good example of how poverty affects his education because it shows that because of poverty, Panchito had to leave school and suspend his education while he worked with his family to earn money. Another example of how poverty affects Panchito is when Panchito lives with Roberto, separate from the rest of the family because of his family’s poverty. Poverty also affects Panchito’s home; Panchito lives in a shack without a bathroom. If Panchito or Roberto had to go to the bathroom at night, they’d go in a pan, but Panchito has to take it to the outhouse the next morning. Poverty also has effects on his health; When Panchito got ringworm, his mother didn’t take him to a doctor, she treated him herself. Panchito’s life is affected by poverty. This shows that struggle has implications.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects living conditions; “The migratory experience left these workers – primarily Mexicans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Filipinos – permanent outsiders and vulnerable to exploitation, low wages, and wretched working and living conditions”(“The Cycle of Poverty: Mexican-American Migrant Farmworkers Testify before Congress). This shows that the people affected by this ended up with poorer living conditions, despite their tireless working. Another example of how poverty affects living conditions is shown on ThinkProgress’s website; “On average, food stamp beneficiaries live 1.8 miles away from a grocery store. Without a vehicle or public transportation to help these Americans get to the market and carry their groceries back home”(Four Ways That Poverty Hurts Americans’ Long-Term Health). This shows that people affected by poverty are prone to poor living conditions. The last example of how poverty affects living conditions is by the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE); “Seventy-one percent of the expenditures of the families of poor* individuals is for food, shelter, utilities, and apparel, compared to 46 percent for families of the non-poor. For those in poor, single-parent families, the share spent on these necessities is 80 percent … Those living in poor households are twice as likely to be victims of violent crimes (robbery, assault, and rape) as are the non-poor. Those is poor, single-parent families are more than three times as likely”(Living Conditions of American Families,). These examples show how poverty affects living conditions in many different ways.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects health; “The poor are unlikely to invade ERs in upscale hospitals in richer neighborhoods for the simple reason that they would be too hard for them to reach. Rural areas have always had issues with convenient health facilities. And that is one reason why charities such as Remote Area Medical find that literally hundreds of people stand in line in the predawn hours to attend free medical and dental clinics in places such as mountainous Wise County. Poverty and access to medical care are still a serious problem in Virginia”(Where Virginia’s poor live). This example shows that people who are poor have less convenient access to medical resources than people who are not poor. Another example of health being affected by poverty is shown on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s website; “Approximately 1.2 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty (less than one dollar per day). Poverty creates ill-health because it forces people to live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation”(Poverty and Health). This example shows how poverty affects health and sanitation. Another example on OUPblog’s website is, “If you are poor, you are more likely to live in communities with hazardous outdoor and indoor air pollution. Your children are more likely to have elevated lead levels and resultant problems, such as lower IQ scores and reading levels, attention deficits, and behavioral problems. You are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed, and when able to get a job, you’re more likely to work in an unhealthful or unsafe workplace with hazardous chemical or physical exposures. If you are poor, you are less likely to be able to access healthy foods and are more likely to be obese — and develop illnesses associated with obesity. You are more likely to be addicted to cigarettes”(Poverty and health in the United States). This example shows how poverty affects health because of where you live. Poverty has negative affects on many things. These examples show how poverty affects health.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects education; “Children living in poverty have a higher number of absenteeism or leave school all together because they are more likely to have to work or care for family members. Dropout rates of 16 to 24-year-old students who come from low income families are seven times more likely to drop out than those from families with higher incomes. A higher percentage of young adults (31 percent) without a high school diploma live in poverty, compared to the 24 percent of young people who finished high school”(11 Facts About Education and Poverty in America). This example shows how poverty affects education and learning in America. Another example of how poverty affects education is by the ETS; “While education has been envisioned as the great equalizer, this promise has been more myth than reality. Today, the achievement gap between the poor and the non-poor is twice as large as the achievement gap between Black and White students. The tracking of differences in the cognitive performance of toddlers, elementary and middle school students, and college-bound seniors shows substantial differences by income and/or poverty status”(Poverty and Education: Finding the Way Forward). This example shows how poverty affects student’s education. Another example of poverty and education is found on the digital commons; “Poverty affects a child’s development and educational outcomes beginning in the earliest years of life, both directly and indirectly through mediated, moderated, and transactional processes”(The Effect of Poverty on Child Development and Educational Outcomes). This example shows how poverty affects education greatly. Poverty has negative effects on many things. These examples show how poverty affects education.
There are implications of poverty found in other sources. Poverty affects safety; “POOR people are twice as likely to be mugged, a new report will reveal today … It means they are more likely to be attacked several times in a year and that levels of domestic violence are higher than in more affluent households. The report also warns that children growing up in crime-ridden neighbourhoods are more likely to become aggressive and turn to violent crime themselves”(MOST VICTIMS OF CRIME ARE POOR). This shows how people in poverty are vulnerable to crime. Another example of how poverty affects safety; “The NCVS data reveal that those with household incomes below $7,500 are more than three times more likely to be robbed than those with incomes above $75,000”(Who is Most Likely to be a Crime Victim?). This example shows how poverty negatively affects safety. Another example of how safety is affected by poverty; “John Berry, 64, a Vietnam veteran who lived without a home in Anaheim. Stabbed to death. Billy Rajah Jr., 47, a Salinas man living on the streets. Ran over by a man who decided that once wasn’t enough, so he ran over Rajah again, killing him. Pedro Ramos, 32, homeless in Houston. A group of teenagers shot him and took his wallet. He had $1. The victims’ crimes: being poor”(Since 1999, More Than A Thousand Homeless People Have Been Victims Of Violent Hate Crimes). These examples show how poverty negatively affects safety.
To sum up, this essay has shown that in spite of what some think, struggle is multidimensional and has implications that can hurt us. Some may believe that poverty is good for you. It can help a person to better deal with certain tricky situations, and how to get out of others; experience is the best teacher. This may be true, but I believe poverty is bad because of its affects on living conditions, health, education and safety.
Poverty is not the only struggle that has negative implications; racism is just as damaging. According to the Free Dictionary, “The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to other races”(racism). Racism is a person’s belief that a certain race is better than all the others.
Examples of racism can be found in Breaking Through. When Panchito went to High School, his counselor discriminated him, tried to put him in woodworking, mechanics, and even farming classes; “"We have excellent vocational programs in car mechanics, electronics, and wood shop. We also have a program for future farmers””(75). This example shows racism; the counselor assumed that because of his race, Panchito would want be a farmer, or work with his hands for a living when he grew up. Another example of racism from the book is when Roberto met his girlfriend’s family; “When I said I was Mexican there was dead silence. After a while we continued talking, but they seemed uncomfortable and less friendly”(107). This example shows racism, because Roberto’s girlfriend’s parents felt less friendly to him, only because of his race. Another example of racism from the book comes to pass when Panchito was offered a typewriter by an office worker; “"It needs a new ribbon." "Yes, I know," I said. He gave me a surprised look”(93). This shows racism because the office worker thought that Panchito didn’t know the typewriter needed a new ribbon; he acted surprised when Panchito assured him that he knew. These examples show racism in the book, Breaking Through.
The movie, 42, about the Jackie Robinson story, shows examples of racism and its implications. The first example happens right after Jackie Robinson is hired by Mr. Ricky. At the airport, a clerk surrenders Jackie’s and his wife’s seats for a white couple. Jackie and his wife paid for those seats. She didn’t even ask if they would give up their seats. This example shows how the clerk considered Jackie Robinson and his wife less than the other couple because of the color of their skin. That wasn’t the only example of racism found in the movie. When he first went to an actual ball game, Jackie was threatened by an old cop angrily brandishing a nightstick. He said that black people don’t play white baseball. This example shows how even respected members of society were racist then. These examples show racism.
The movie, 42, about the Jackie Robinson story, shows examples of racism and its implications. The first example happens when the Dodgers go to Philadelphia. The hotel refuses the entire team just because they have Jackie Robinson with them. It shows that the hotel opposed Jackie Robinson being on the team because of the color of his skin. It was because of the color of his skin because no matter who the Dodgers had on the team before, the hotel accepted them. Another example of racism happens when Jackie joins the Dodgers, although it isn’t revealed until later. People send Jackie death threats, just because his skin is a different color than some other baseball players. Some racial slurs even ranged to “Nigger”, which, according to the Mac OS X dictionary, was used as “an adjective denoting a black person as early as the 17th century and has long had strong offensive connotations. Today it remains one of the most racially offensive words in the language”. He, Jackie Robinson, had not done anything to anger anyone at all than by being on a baseball team with a different skin color than him. These are examples of racism.
Not only has J. Robinson experienced racism and its implications, but it has happened to my mom’s friend. “”Galking at me for long periods of time without acknowledging that I am at the end of their piercing gaze…” “… Especially when I soften the offense by smiling and they fail to return my smile and acknowledgement of them””. My mom’s friend is black. The people looking at her were being very rude, and the difference of skin color suggests that they were being racist, and since she had done nothing else to receive the treatment they gave her, they were definitely were being racist. They even ignored the fact that she tried to smile at them. They acted as if she wasn’t human, just because she has a different skin color. This is an example of racism.
In contrast to all I have shared, Kelly Mcgonigal provides an opposing perspective. According to her, 20,000 people die a year to the belief that stress is bad for you. People die more from thinking stress is bad than people do from stress itself. She states that oxytocin, which she says helps people socialize, is a stress hormone. So when you’re stressed, you’re socializing. Also, she says people who help and care for others, don’t get hurt by stress. So when you help other people you help yourself. However, stress that comes from poverty and racism is never good. These have implications that affect one’s life, education, health, and living conditions. Even if its affects can be avoided, it is still very hurtful to everyone affected by it. Jackie Robinson broke his bat and needed help to get back to the playing field from Mr. Rickie when he got affected by stress – in fact, he nearly gave up his cause because of it. Despite what some may think, stress is bad for you.
To sum up, this essay has shown that despite what some may think, struggle caused by racism and poverty are bad and can negatively affect one’s life, education, health, and living conditions. Panchito’s family nearly collapsed because of their poverty and the racism of almost everyone in their neighborhood. Jackie Robinson was so affected by the struggle caused by racism that he broke his bat and nearly abandoned his cause. It’s our community’s responsibility to end the struggles caused by poverty and racism.